Controls News 13
52
Reference projects:
34
km Lötschberg Base Tunnel
The numerous proprietary interfaces from each of the
104
cross tubes are replaced with a single Ethernet interface:
–
The operation of the tunnel becomes permanently secure
and reliable
–
Increase in transparency and improvement in efficiency
through improved remote diagnostics
–
Significant reduction in costs in maintenance
Correcting the mistakes from the construction
phase:
New tunnel and control technology 2010–2012
In 2009, two years after the start of operation, BLS
Netz AG started planning the correction of mistakes
from the construction phase. The focus was on the
Goal
To correct the mistakes
from the construction phase
propri-etary automation systems. They are inacces-
sible and inflexible and also only «speak» their own
language which cannot be understood by other sys-
tems. These proprietary automation systems needed
to be replaced with open systems that meet widely
used and recognised standards. The changeover
work has to be carried out during ongoing opera-
tion. Another major challenge is the integration of
available systems, actuators and sensors into the
existing switching cabinets. Before the start of the
project, BLS evaluated which systems could be used
to achieve the objectives. No other system offered
better conditions than Saia® PCD for meeting the
high expectations. In addition to all the regulation
and control functions, it was possible to directly in-
tegrate support and management functions for the
corresponding subsystems. Thanks to the builtin web
technology, any subsystem can access other subsys-
tems quickly and directly without any detours. BLS
saw in Saia® PCD technology complete transpar-
ency, flexibility, interoperability and openness.
The following advantages were decisive:
–
Saia® PCD offers all the necessary interfaces and
protocols to integrate devices, systems, actuators
and sensors into the existing switching cabinets.
–
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The existing previous-generation Saia® PCD sys-
tems can easily by replaced by the latest-genera-
tion systems without a great deal of effort. The orig-
inal investments such as the I/O modules and the
application software therefore continue to pay off.
–
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With Saia® PCD, BLS has the greatest possible de-
gree of independence. Generally speaking, any Saia
system integrator can provide support during sub-
sequent alterations.
–
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BLS sees Saia-Burgess Controls as a flexible and reli-
able partner, and sees Saia® PCD as an automation
system that guarantees robustness, innovation and
long product life cycles.
Through this project, Saia-Burgess Controls again
received a major order for the Lötschberg Base Tun-
nel. The «Cheap in Mind» minimal version is being
replaced by «Peace of Mind» technology.
In order to the devices from the construction phase
that were already installed, Saia-Burgess Controls
supplied a large number of Saia® PCD automation
systems for the «New Tunnel Control Technology»
project. The changeover work on the Lötschberg
Base Tunnel is largely completed.
Through the «New Tunnel Control Technology»
optimisation project, security and availability, as
well as economical maintenance management, have
been assured for the long term.
Graphics: Source: BLS Netz AG
Control-
ler
Control-
ler
Control-
ler
Control-
ler
Control-
ler
Control-
ler
Control-
ler
Water
supply
Building
ventila-
tion
Low
voltage
power
Air-con-
ditioning
Fire
alarms
Video,
gates
Speak-
ers
Tunnel control technology
Each for
104
cross tubes
Control system
Controller
Water
supply
Building
ventila-
tion
Low
voltage
power
Air-con-
ditioning
Fire
alarms
Video,
gates
Speak-
ers
Tunnel control technology
Each for
104
cross tubes
Control system
–
The technical infrastructure was set up in a proprietary
manner according to lots for specialist sectors.
–
The tunnel control technology is unnecessarily complex
and unmanageable.
–
The tunnel operators are not adequately supported
by the tunnel control technology.
Status quo
Situation from
the construction phase
Switching cabinet before the changeover
work
Switching cabinet after the changeover
work
Prime example of lean automation:
The switching cabinets after the changeover work are much leaner
than the original ones from the construction phase. A lot of ad-
ditional hardware that had become superfluous has been removed.
This step alone has drastically reduced the risk of faults.
